Harlequins back row star Chris Robshaw reckons his side will have no excuses if they fail to beat neighbours London Irish on Sunday.

Quins take on the Exiles a day after England face Ireland in a Six Nations showdown at Twickenham that has robbed the Stoop outfit of the services of Nick Easter, Danny Care and Ugo Monye.

Robshaw returned to head coach John Kingston’s starting line-up in Saturday’s 13-6 win over Northampton Saints after his own international getaway with Martin Johnson’s men in Italy earlier this month.

Quins’ England trio were faces in the crowd as full-back Mike Brown’s try helped give his side to a much-needed win at the weekend that ended a four-match Guinness Premiership losing streak.

And the club’s 22-year-old flanker admits while their continued absence is a disadvantage, it cannot be used as a reason for failing to capitalise on Quins’ return to winning ways.

“Losing those three players is a massive blow to us because they are massive players for this club and how we play,” he said.

“It is up to the other guys in the squad to come in and not just do a job, but go out there and make an impact, so we don’t have to keep relying on them.

“We always knew they would be missing for eight weeks of the season. Every team is in the same boat so there are no excuses, we just have to get on with things.”

Robshaw was on touchline duty with England for their 17-12 triumph in Rome earlier this month, having been called into Johnson’s squad as injury cover.

While he wasn’t involved in the matchday 22, he was only too pleased to sample the pressure surrounding the side’s Six Nations campaign and can’t wait for another chance to represent his country.

“It was nice to get that matchday experience and a taste of what the Six Nations can be like,” he added.

“I’d love to play for my country again. I feel like I’ve come back a better player and improved, but we’ll just have to wait and see how things pan out.”

And he is hoping that includes success at the Madejski Stadium come Saturday and a tilt at breaking back into the Premiership top six.

“There is still something like eight games to go and anything is possible,” he said.

“It was massive to get a win at the weekend, it has been coming for a couple of games.

“Things haven’t gone our way this season, but we must aim on getting into the top six and then take stock over the summer. We must qualify for the Heineken Cup and that is what we are aiming for.”

Quins’s next three games: Feb 28 London Irish (a), Mar 6 Worcester (h), 27 Bath (a).